Russia plans to launch six satellites
Russia will add six satellites to its global navigation system, GLONASS, in 2007, a spokesman at Moscow's Research Institute of Space Instrument-Making said.
Plans call for three satellites to be sent into orbit in September, and three will be launched in December, Itar-Tass reported Tuesday.
First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has described the GLONASS system as "a qualitative breakthrough in the navigation sphere" with great potential for commercial use.
Itar-Tass said the navigation system currently has 19 satellites but seven have been temporarily taken out of service.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International